Shadowing

Posted on Tue Apr 1st, 2025 @ 7:22am by Daise'Arrain Calin tr'Rhenn & Erien Seren Gemini (Kelea-Salik) & Daise'Arrain Olmex Thikoho [Reece] & Daise'Erei'Riov Thomas Pierpoint

Mission: GSN Havraha
2536 words - 5.1 OF Standard Post Measure

Calin was to put it mildly, bored. "ihirvædhl" she muttered under her breath as she entered the bridge of the warbird with the autopsy report on their former RIOV. She ignored the Captain's female who was somehow on the bridge. Calin, a full blooded Romulan of impeccable linage was not going to even acknowledge a slave, it was bad enough she needed to acknowledge Pierpoint. She stepped up noting the security officers watching her. Let them watch. As Chief Medical Officer the Daise'Hiifvehi'Saehne, she had a right to be there, and to present the information. She handed over the PADD in silence then said. "Daise'Erei'Riov . The final Autopsy report. While her neck was broken, I cannot state it was from being tossed from her bunk. Death by Accident will need to do until I can get her remains to a proper facility." Her tone was formal and cold. She had never shown anything but this tone of voice when dealing with Pierpoint. And it was well known that the Chief Medical Officer would rather eat glass than smile at the man or show any sort of emotion towards him.

Thomas sat on the bridge as the warbird silently paced the Federation ship Elysium. When the CMO stepped onto the bridge, he barely acknowledged her with a single glance. He accepted the PaDD in silence, his eyes reading over the report on the previous captain's death. He was aware of Calin's opinion of him and didn't care. As long as she attended to and preformed her duties as Chief Medical Officer all would be.... tolerable. "Thank you, Doctor. You do realize that may be a long time in coming." He finally replied as several seconds had crept by. Turning his head, he looked at her. "Anything else to report Doctor?"

She barely tilted her head. "A suggestion, Captain. It would be prudent to confine your... creature... within your quarters. Safety would be assured." She turned but as she did so, a shout came from the Scanning Console.

"Riov, we have completed our scans of the craft the Lloann'mhrahel vessel is stationed at."

Calina rolled her eyes. She was of the opinion that lurking in the shadows was doing them more harm then good but she headed for the turbolift.

"Thank you for your suggestion, Doctor. I shall take it under advisement." Thomas replied cooly before turning to the officer at the scanning console. "Report! What do the scans reveal?"

"A vast city ship, low warp capable and looking more citadel/chapel than ship, overtly ornate, spires and iconography litter the hull." The crew member replied as an image appeared on the screen. "They have docked with it. But it is not a familiar race in our database."

Seren looked towards Thomas from where she sat. “The Federation make use of all they can find wherever they go Captain, it may be worth our while to see who they trade with. I’ve no doubt there are those here of the more...unsavoury variety.”

Thomas nodded, "Yes good observation Seren. We will maintain our position and continue to observe just what and who the Elysium deals with and if that will be beneficial to us."

One of the officers rolled their eyes as the alien spoke. They did not respect Pierpoint or his slave. But none were confident enough yet to challenge him for leadership.

Another raised their head "Sir our supplies are getting low, we may need to risk a raid."

Seren looked towards Thomas, she was only Diplomatic Advisor, but she would offer her opinion where needed. “Perhaps the military Commander should be consulted on that option Captain?”

Thomas turned to face Seren, "Perhaps Seren perhaps. Let us observe our Federation 'friends' before we rush in blindly." Though preparing a plan certainly can't hurt. Page the military commander to the bridge." He ordered.

A few moments later, the bridge doors slid apart, and in strode the powerful form of the ship's Marine commander, Daise'Arrain Olmex Thikoho. He stepped up to the command dias and he looked at the Human with a look that could have been dangerous. "You wished to see me...Riov?" He asked, clearly unhappy with beeing summoned by either this Human, or his slave woman.

Thomas looked the Marine commander up and down. "I did." He stated simply before going on. "I would like your opinion on staging a raid on the city ship where the Federation ship is currently docked.

When Olmex had stepped up to Thomas, the crew had all turned expecting something to happen. They watched in silence.

Olmex was silent for a beat, then spoke. "Without knowledge of what is inside the station, defensive systems, security or military personnel, it would be imprudent to initiate any form of offensive actions, given our currently limited forces. I suggest that scans of the both the station and the Starfleet vessel be made, to gain more actionable intelligence."

Thomas considered Olmex's words, and they made sense and were prudent. Two words he didn't think he would ever use when dealing with the marine commander. He gave a small nod of acceptance. "Scan the city ship as well as the Federation ship, Find out all that you can. The information you gather will better help plan a raid to where it will be most effective."

Olmex gave the Human a confused look. "I am not a member of the Galae. I do not hold a post on the bridge....Commander." His tone suddenly had an edge to it.

"You are hereby authorized to be on the bridge and use a bridge station to perform the task I have set before you." Tom answered in a stiff, glacial tone.

The other officers on the bridge looked at each other, concern filling their features. The junior officer, currently at the science station spoke up. "Sir, I am the officer in charge of the sensors. Have I done something to offend you, or indicate that I am unable to perform my duties?" The young man seemed to bristle at the notion that this Human was about to replace him with the marine, a man who was far beneath him in status and position.

Thomas nodded at the officer's words "Calm yourself. You have done nothing to offend me or prove you can't perform your duties. I wish Olmex to plan a raid. To do such he needs detailed scan of the city ship and the Elysium. You can perform the scans on the areas he designates."

With this, the bridge officer bristles noticably. "He is just a gekha, Commander." The officer sneered as she glance in Olmex's direction. "His kind are of a lower caste. If you were Romulan, you would know this. I will not take orders from him."

Another officer stood as well. "We all agree. If he was one of us no issue. But he is not. You cannot and we will not."

Seren glanced towards Thomas, it seemed he had a major problem on his hands.

One of the other officers sent a signal down to the other departments letting them know what was going on.

Another stood and said "You are only Riov due to the fact that the late Riov made you her second in command. If this was Romulus, you would not be alive..." the unspoken was that maybe someone should change that status.

Thomas looked at the rebelious officers and was about to reply when Romulan marines came onto the bridge.

As if on cue, the doors leading off the bridge slid open and a squad of marines, heavily armed and armored at that, entered the bridge. They quickly took up positions around Thomas. While the rest of the bridge reacted to this action with wide eyes and shocked expressions, Olmex stayed perfectly still, his eyes planted firmly on Thomas. In a voice that held unmistakable power and authority, the Marine commander finally spoke. "Thomas Pierpoint," he began, deliberately not using the Galae rank that the former CO has given him, "by order 397.6, and the fact that you are a simple Human," he said the word with some distaste. " You are hereby removed from any and all command duties of this vessel. My men will escort you to your new quarters, where you will remain, under guard, until such time as your fate will be determined. You will be allowed to keep your...pet," he was indicating the alien they had picked up shortly after reaching the Circinus Galaxy, "as she has no rights under Romulan law." He stepped forward, towering over the smaller man. "Test me in this, and you will end up, either in the brig, or open space. Your choice, Human."

Thomas was many things; one of thing he was not was stupid. He knew the deck was stacked against him and to try and make a play was foolhardy and he was also not a fool. He stood up slowly he wasn't cowered by the marine commander. He had faced tougher opponents and won, and he would win again. Only he would pick the time and place. For now, he had time on his hands. Time to think and plot. "Come Seren. It seems my services to the Romulan Star Empire are no longer needed."

Seren walked over to join Thomas, without his protection she would be no better off than a slave. Right now they were both in danger, but she had faith in him.

An officer had summoned the Chief Medical Officer back to the bridge. She entered as the security surrounded Pierpoint and his slave.

A perfect eyebrow raised. She looked at the officers. "Yes?"

"He has been removed from duty. He and his... slave are to be taken to the brig. Make sure they are ... healthy."

Calin sighed. "The airlock would be easier" she mused but nodded. Then her gaze sharpened. "When is the discussion?"

"1 hour." Came the reply.

An hour of political and physical discussion prior to the discussion and vote for Riov. Calin nodded. "I will be there." She waved at the security staff and said "Brig"

Calin arrived in the brig and waited for the arrival of the now disposed Riov. She didn't even seem to be shocked as the man and his alien were led in.

Thomas and Seren came to the brig. he wasn't surprised to see Calin there. She had never liked him. Well, if she expected him to beg or plead, she was going to be in for a long wait.

Calin sighed and held out her tricorder. "Male prisoner first." She said using the traditional terms. "Then the slave."

Thomas remained silent as Calin performed her scan. He had nothing to say before, during or after the scan.

The scan was quickly done and he was led to a cell. Then Calin turned to the slave.

Seren stood allowing her scan to be completed as well, there was nothing to say she was a slave to all but Thomas.

As the scans were performed, the doors to the brig opened again, and the powerful form of Olmex strode inside. His very presence exuded authority and power. "Lock them up in separate cells," he commanded the brigmaster, a seasoned noncommussioned officer, who was loyal to both Romulus and the Marine Commander. "Their cells are to be set at full isolation." He then turned and looked at Thomas, ignoring his alien slave. "You will remain in these cells until such time as your fates are decided."

Both Thomas and Seren were forcibly moved towards their separate cells.

Thomas continued to remain silent. He wasn't cowed by the Romulan marine, nor did he dismiss him. He met Olmex's gaze head on and just continued to evaluate him as he and Seren were moved to their cells.

Calin looked at the former Riov. "You really should have cultivated officers among the crew. This might have been avoided." She turned and headed out the door. "I have to attend the Officer vote."

Thomas inclined his head in short nod. "Good point. Though the high command legitimately assigned and placed me here and I have served this ship and crew to the best of my abilities. I ascended to command through the death of our previous captain and not through mutiny. Though I was viewed as a mere human. I did try to integrate officers yet was rebuffed and treated as an outsider and with barely veiled disdain. Then when I took Seren to be my woman for, she was the only one to show me kindness, I was met with even more hostility. So, go attend your officers vote." There was no malice in his voice. Just statement of fact. As he turned to lie on the cot.

"You were placed here only as a side note, Human." Olmex growled at Thomas. You were to be interrogated for all the information you have on Stafleet movements and plans. Now that we are no longer in our galaxy, you usefulness has come to an end." He nodded to the brigmaster and the fells were activated, sealing the two prisoners inside.

Seren moved to lie on her cot as well, she didn’t need to see Thomas to talk to him her telepathy wasn’t blocked by cell barriers. *Can you hear me? Concentrate your thoughts I’ll be able to read them.*

Thomas ignored him, pointedly ignored him and laid down on the cot. As he did, he thought he heard something, He concentrated focusing on the sound. "It was Seren! She was talking to him. *How is this possible?* He mentally asked her.

*I’m a telepath remember? Our thoughts have entwined before.” Seren replied.

Thomas chucked without humor. *I confess I forgot Seren, but I am glad it is here, so we can speak,*


===

The officers’ meeting was as always tense. They had lost so many and now junior officers with little to no experience were putting their hands up. Calin remained quiet at the back. As Chief Medical Officer she was not really expected to have a say but to fall in line with whoever won.

But she watched, listened, and when asked to speak, something rare for those in Medical she paused before stepping up.

“Our Riov is dead, her supposed successor in the brig.” She said calmly. “One cannot deny that we are in a bad position. One that presses on us, the necessity of maintaining our mnhei'sahe for we are Rihannsu, and even where we are that means more than anything. We must maintain our decorum. And maintain our mnhei’sahe. To do so, means we need to consider everything that affects us. We as officers will need to choose someone who can do that.” She bowed her head and stepped back. She had her own plans.

She listened as more arguments happened and eventually the officer who had run their tactical systems was chose as interim Riov. And she wondered how long that would last.

The ship moved away from its course choosing to lurk in the shadows and then cloaked, it followed the Elysium on its way.

===